Breathalyzer holder

ABSTRACT

A breathalyzer holder having an opaque body for retaining a breathalyzer having an electrical connection and a blow-tube. The breathalyzer holder includes a body having a lower hole to allow an electrical cable to pass through the body to electrically connect to the breathalyzer. The breathalyzer holder also includes a lid having an aperture that allows a breathalyzer blow tube to pass through to allow a user to blow into the breathalyzer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed towards a device forassisting in the prevention of drunk driving.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Driving while drunk or alcohol impaired is almost universally consideredto be dangerous activity. Statistics and scientific studies, combinedwith common sense and experience, prove that drivers with high bloodalcohol concentration (BAC) are at a greatly increased risk of accidentsand vehicular deaths.

Over the years law enforcement, legislatures, and courts have given theproblem of drunk driving a high priority. Courts routinely suspend orrevoke driver licenses of those convicted of drunk driving, vehicles arefrequently impounded by law enforcement personnel when they suspect adriver is drunk, some jurisdictions require special vehicle plates aftera drunk driving conviction, open container laws are implemented andenforced, high fines are issued, mandatory alcohol education classes areusually required, jail or prison time is often ordered, and insurancerates rise dramatically after a conviction.

Despite the foregoing punishments, repeat convictions for drunk drivingare frustratingly common. In response those concerned with driver safetyhave turned to technology to try to reduce recidivist drunk and impaireddriving. Numerous attempts have been made to develop devices whichprevent automobiles and the like from being operated by drunk orimpaired drivers. One well accepted device is the breathalyzer. By tyingthe starting of a vehicle to passing a breathalyzer test the incidentsof recidivist drunk driving can be significantly reduced. One commonapproach is to implement an ignition interlock system with abreathalyzer test result. In a typical breathalyzer-interlock system adriver must pass a breathalyzer test to start a vehicle and then passanother breathalyzer test at some time interval, say every 15 or 30minutes, to keep the vehicle operating.

Breathalyzers have been so successful that courts in some areas will notpermit a driver who has been convicted of drunk driving from having adriver's license unless a breathalyzer-interlock system is installed andused on the vehicle they drive. Furthermore, attempts at defeating orotherwise evading the breathalyzer-interlock system can be and arepunished by fines, jail time, additional loss of license, and/or vehicleimpoundment or confiscation.

While breathalyzer-interlock systems are generally successful they dopresent a problem of potential embarrassment to the vehicle's driver.While many would be unsympathetic to that problem in the case of someoneconvicted of drunk driving, such embarrassment can cause some operatorsto attempt to remove or disconnect the systems. This reduces theeffectiveness of the breathalyzers. Furthermore, some drivers recognizethat they have a drinking problem and voluntarily addbreathalyzer-interlock systems to their vehicles even though they havenot been convicted or ordered to do so. Potential embarrassment canreduce the number of drivers who do so, a fact that could cost lives.Finally, temporary drivers of a vehicle having a breathalyzer interlocksystem might also be embarrassed to drive a vehicle that is so equipped.

Therefore, a holder for a breathalyzer-interlock system that reduces orprevents driver embarrassment would be beneficial.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The principles of the present invention provide for a breathalyzerholder that prevents or reduces embarrassment to a driver or operator ofa vehicle equipped with a breathalyzer-interlock system. A breathalyzerholder according to those principles had an opaque body for retaining abreathalyzer having an electrical connection and a blow-tube. Thebreathalyzer holder includes a body having a lower hole to allow anelectrical cable to pass into the breathalyzer holder to electricallyconnect to the breathalyzer. The breathalyzer holder also includes a lidhaving an aperture that allows a breathalyzer blow tube to pass throughto allow a user to blow into the breathalyzer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become betterunderstood with reference to the following detailed description andclaims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a prototypical breathalyzer;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the prototypical breathalyzerillustrated in FIG. 1 showing both its electrical connection and anelectrical cable to an ignition interlock;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a prototypical breathalyzer housedinside a breathalyzer holder that is in accord with the principles ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the prototypical breathalyzer and thebreathalyzer holder illustrated in FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the prototypical breathalyzer andbreathalyzer holder illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 showing the electricalcable to the ignition; and

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a breathalyzer holder in accord with theprinciples of the present invention being used inside a vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The presently disclosed subject matter now will be described more fullyhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which anembodiment is shown. However, it should be understood that thisinvention may take many different forms and thus should not be construedas being limited to the specific embodiment set forth herein. Note thatin the figures that like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

The principles of the present invention are illustrated herein withreference to FIGS. 1 to 6. Specifically, the principles of the presentinvention provide for a holder for a breathalyzer. FIG. 1 illustrates aprototypical breathalyzer 10, which is not meant to illustrate anyparticular breathalyzer, any manufacturer, or any specific model.Rather, it is a generic device having traits common among breathalyzers.However, important to the principles of the present invention is thatthe prototypical breathalyzer 10 has a blow tube 12 and an electricalconnection 14. Usually a breathalyzer 10 will also include operationbuttons 16 (such as reset and start buttons), some type of data input 18(such as a keypad or touch screen), and a display 20. FIG. 2 shows abottom perspective view of an electrical cable 60 that runs to anignition interlock (not shown) and that connects to the electricalconnection 14.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, briefly during operation a user turns on thebreathalyzer 10 using one or more operation buttons 16 (or it comes onautomatically when a driver turns the ignition key), enters data usingthe data input 18, if required, waits for directions to be shown on thedisplay 20, blows into the blow tube 12 when directed, waits for thebreathalyzer result to be displayed on the display 20, and then starts avehicle after the breathalyzer 10 sends control signals out of theelectrical connection 14 to an ignition interlock device (not shown) viathe electrical cable 60.

FIG. 3 illustrates a breathalyzer holder 28 that is in accord with theprinciples of the present invention. The breathalyzer holder 28 includesa removable lid 30 that attaches to a body 32. The prototypicalbreathalyzer 10 fits inside the breathalyzer holder 28 such that theblow tube 12 passes through an aperture 38 in the lid 30. At the bottomof the body 32 is a molded plastic pillow 40 that is configured to formfit with the prototypical breathalyzer 10. This protects theprototypical breathalyzer 10, positions it in the correct orientation tofit the breathalyzer holder, and orientates the blow tube 12 toward theaperture 38. The plastic pillow 40 includes a hole 42 under theelectrical connection 14. That hole 42 allows the electrical cable 60 tomate to the electrical connection 14. FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom viewof the body 32 when the electrical connection 14 is not connected, whileFIG. 5 illustrates the same view when the electrical cable 60 mates withthe electrical connection 14.

FIG. 3 also shows an opening 46 that allows a user to operate theoperation buttons 16. If the prototypical breathalyzers 10 does notrequire that a user interact with the operation buttons 16 then theopening 46 can be omitted or, if present, closed by a window piece (notshown). It should be understood that in some models of the breathalyzerholder 28 that there will be no opening 46.

FIG. 6 illustrates the breathalyzer holder 28 being used by a driver 50of a car 52. The prototypical breathalyzer 10 (not shown) is placedinside the breathalyzer holder 28 such that the blow tube 12 extends outof the breathalyzer holder 28. The electrical cable 60 passes though thebreathalyzer holder 28 and makes contact with the electrical connection14. To start the car 52 the user 50 uses the breathalyzer 10 by blowinginto the blow tube 12. If the driver 50 is not drunk appropriateelectrical signals from the breathalyzer 10 pass through electricalcable 60 to allow the car 52 to start. Meanwhile the breathalyzer holder28 shields the prototypical breathalyzer 10 from view, which saves thedriver 50 from embarrassment.

It should be understood that the breathalyzer holder 28 is simply anembodiment of the present invention. Therefore, it is to be understoodthat while the figures and the above description illustrate the presentinvention, they are exemplary only. They are not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, andobviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of theabove teaching. Others who are skilled in the applicable arts willrecognize numerous modifications and adaptations of the illustratedembodiments that remain within the principles of the present invention.Therefore, the present invention is to be limited only by the appendedclaims.

1. A breathalyzer holder, comprising: a body for retaining abreathalyzer having an electrical connection and a blow-tube, said bodyincluding a hole to allow an electrical cable to pass into thebreathalyzer holder to electrically connect to the electricalconnection; and a lid having an aperture to allow a breathalyzer blowtube to pass through; wherein said body and said lid are configured toattach together such that said blow tube passes thought said aperture;and wherein said body and said lid are comprised of an opaque materialsuch that a breathalyzer inside the breathalyzer holder is not readilyvisible.
 2. The breathalyzer holder according to claim 1, furtherincluded a pillow for hold a breathalyzer when that breathalyzer isinside said breathalyzer holder.